Record-Breaking Thread

"North Korea executed its special nuclear envoy to the United States as part of a purge of senior officials over the failed summit between leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump ... Kim Hyok Chol was executed by firing squad in March along with four other foreign ministry officials. Kim Jong Un ordered the purge amid mounting dissatisfaction with the summit in Hanoi – the second time Kim and Trump met for face-to-face talks. In Vietnam, they failed to reach a deal because of..."

As JRT attests, it could be worse, and relatively minor in the scheme of things, but it's been a rough work week.

-Monday: Drove four hours on Monday, after specifically stating we required a packer on-site, to a site, arrived, no packer;

-Tuesday: A government organization did a snap inspection on one of our summer students in the field and kicked him off site (it's been resolved now);

-Wednesday: A welcome reprieve;

-Thursday: Buddy calls and says the truck has no brakes, pedal just goes to the floor. Checks the level, it's low, added two bottles of brake fluid, still low, no observable leaking. Limps it into a parking lot and there it sits (I suspect the seal in the MC is shot and it's leaking into the booster, but I'm not really sure);

-Friday: It's early yet, but buddy drives to site, goes to unlock the equipment and someone bent the key (not the easy left/right either, but up and down) and it won't fit into the lock. It's a 1.5 hr round trip back to the office.

Had the most extraordinary visit to the Indy 500. It started Wed and continued through Sunday's race. Enjoyed quality time with Willy T. Ribbs, Johnny Rutherford, Scott Goodyear, Arie Luyendyk, Geoff Brabham, Matt Brabham and track historian Donald Davidson. Watched the team pitstop competition from the pit lane wall, had a lap around the track well above 100mph. (Though not in the double seat Indy car) Spent the race alternating between our front straight seats hearing and feeling the cars and crowd and inside the suite with Geoff and Matt Brabham hearing their observations of the various drivers and cars as the race played out.

A friend I used to race the old Skip Barber cars with has a woman who works with him who used to coordinate large corporate events at Indy. She hadn't done it for years but my friend coaxed her out of retirement to reconnect with her old contacts and she put together a magic carpet ride through Indy week that blew my mind. Haven't found a way to tell people about it without glazing their eyes over but you should definitely hate me. :-) Best week ever at a track I wasn't driving at.

Will attempt to condense some highlights and share after I stop feeling like an excited 9 year old. :-)

"Haven't found a way to tell people about it without glazing their eyes over but you should definitely hate me."

Oh, we do, Pat. We do.

We were treated to an afternoon with Willy T. Ribbs who was the first African American racer to drive in the Indy 500.

We were given a preview of a documentary that Adam Corolla has produced about Willy's journey as a pro racer and the various obstacles he had to overcome. Interviews with Bernie Ecclestone, Bobby and Al Unser Jr. David Hobbs and many others cut together with footage from the day make it a powerful experience.

Asked Johnny Rutherford who he enjoyed running over 200 mph next to and who he less enjoyed running with. He said he loved running with AJ Foyt, and less enjoyed Mario because he would happily run you into the grass or worse and Gordon Johncock who's eyesight he questioned. :-)

Scott Goodyear has had his heart broken at Indy more than most, losing the race in the closest finish to that point once and two other times, once when he took the winners checkered flag and was then waved off from victory circle. Scott's been a broadcaster for 16 years and will be administering F3 and F4 this year so he's still very much involved.

Arie Luyendyk still holds the absolute track record of 239+ mph at Indianapolis. For safety they reduced wing and engine size after that time was achieved and no one has bested him since he did it in May of '96. Arie is a current Indy car steward who sits in race control and decide who's playing nice and who gets a penalty... And, he just became a grandfather for he first time. :-)

Geoff Brabham ran Indy 10 times with a P4 his best finish. He won a Can-Am Championship in 1981 and 4 IMSA GTP championships driving those incredible Nissan GTP cars in the late 80's and early 90's. His dad Jack was a legendary Formula One driver and car builder.

Geoff's son Matt is a current racer who has run Indy lights, the Indy 500 in '16, Formula E, Stadium Super Trucks and Pro Mazda formula cars.

Willy, Arie, Scott and Geoff were all around my age and I watched them in their prime way before I set foot in a race car. Having now raced for 16 years experiencing data acquisition and simulators that didn't exist in their day raised the level of conversation about current drivers. Their success was more determined by their ability to communicate what their car was doing than now because data acquisition lets engineers see what the car will and won't do no matter what the driver is telling them. It doesn't mean the driver/engineer relationship isn't still important, just that it doesn't need to be as much of an art form as it was back in their day.

This is very exciting. Not sure I'd be able to hold it together either. One curiosity though. Do you happen to know how long Donald Davidson has been the historian? I ask because, a number of years ago, I wrote to the museum regarding the genesis of the milk tradition. The historian at the time actually reached out and called me to explain it. It was a pretty cool experience as he could have easily just written back to do the same. I'm just wondering if it might be the same guy.

And, in case my seconding of Al's comments wasn't enough, the level of jealousy here is off the charts. ;)

This is very exciting. Not sure I'd be able to hold it together either. One curiosity though. Do you happen to know how long Donald Davidson has been the historian? I ask because, a number of years ago, I wrote to the museum regarding the genesis of the milk tradition. The historian at the time actually reached out and called me to explain it. It was a pretty cool experience as he could have easily just written back to do the same. I'm just wondering if it might be the same guy.

And, in case my seconding of Al's comments wasn't enough, the level of jealousy here is off the charts. ;)

Pretty sure it must have been Donald as he's the only track historian and he's been there since the 1960's. :-)

Donald is up there in years and, even though he's written a number of books, when he goes there won't be a replacement for the database he's accumulated over the decades. It was a privilege hearing him unwind just a small corner of his historical ball of twine memory. :-)

Donald is up there in years and, even though he's written a number of books, when he goes there won't be a replacement for the database he's accumulated over the decades. It was a privilege hearing him unwind just a small corner of his historical ball of twine memory. :-)

I, too, am honored then to have been blessed with his knowledge so long ago.

Donald is up there in years and, even though he's written a number of books, when he goes there won't be a replacement for the database he's accumulated over the decades. It was a privilege hearing him unwind just a small corner of his historical ball of twine memory. :-)

I, too, am honored then to have been blessed with his knowledge so long ago.

During Q & A with Donald I told him I'd attended the '77 500 when Foyt won for the 4th time and asked what he recalled about that race? "Quite a lot!..." he replied. Then, off the top of his head, reminded me it was the first year a woman ran the race (Janet Guthrie) It was the first time a lap over 230mph was achieved (Tom Sneva). And that Gordon Johncock led most of the race until falling out with 16 laps to go when his crankshaft failed. (I did recall Johncock leading and dropping out near the end) He also explained that Foyt and Tony Hulman, who owned the speedway, were close. Hulman was in failing health and when Foyt won Hulman was one of the first to embrace him when he stopped in the pits. Foyt and Hulman then sat up on the back of the convertible pace car and did a parade lap around the speedway as the fans went wild. (All I recalled was being stuck in a massive traffic jam.) Hulman passed away about 6 months later.

Donald then mentioned the museum now has a photo shop on the second floor with a library of digitized photos available for sale. I went up there and found a great shot of the nose of AJ's car crossing the bricks in '77 and a picture of Foyt embracing Hulman in the car with the happiest eyes I've ever seen of AJ Foyt. There was a chance we were going to cross paths with Foyt so I had 8 X 12 prints of each made up to get autographed. We never crossed paths but really pleased to have those prints.

They have multiple computers for customers to browse and you can search all kinds of variables (drivers names, the year of the race, car types etc. to find what you're interested in and they print them up while you're there.

During Q & A with Donald I told him I'd attended the '77 500 when Foyt won for the 4th time and asked what he recalled about that race? "Quite a lot!..." he replied. Then, off the top of his head, reminded me it was the first year a woman ran the race (Janet Guthrie) It was the first time a lap over 230mph was achieved (Tom Sneva). And that Gordon Johncock led most of the race until falling out with 16 laps to go when his crankshaft failed. (I did recall Johncock leading and dropping out near the end) He also explained that Foyt and Tony Hulman, who owned the speedway, were close. Hulman was in failing health and when Foyt won Hulman was one of the first to embrace him when he stopped in the pits. Foyt and Hulman then sat up on the back of the convertible pace car and did a parade lap around the speedway as the fans went wild. (All I recalled was being stuck in a massive traffic jam.) Hulman passed away about 6 months later.

Donald then mentioned the museum now has a photo shop on the second floor with a library of digitized photos available for sale. I went up there and found a great shot of the nose of AJ's car crossing the bricks in '77 and a picture of Foyt embracing Hulman in the car with the happiest eyes I've ever seen of AJ Foyt. There was a chance we were going to cross paths with Foyt so I had 8 X 12 prints of each made up to get autographed. We never crossed paths but really pleased to have those prints.

They have multiple computers for customers to browse and you can search all kinds of variables (drivers names, the year of the race, car types etc. to find what you're interested in and they print them up while you're there.

Speaking of Janet Guthrie, ESPN did a pretty good 30 for 30 on her that aired earlier this week. It ended in somewhat of an odd fashion, but otherwise was very good and informative of her rise through the racing ranks.

JEEZ, Pat!!! Enough that you made it to Indy for the 500, but the Who's Who you hung out with ... WHEW! That is pretty freaking spectacular! Please let us hear about it when you got the time to put it down in bits and bytes!

Saturday - The first time I saw Porgy and Bess was back in the mid-80s at Cleveland's newly restored State Theater, and it was spectacular. The second time was a few years ago, same venue, but in an "edited" version (they should have said, "Bowdlerized!"), and that was bluntly HORRIBLE. Tonight at 7:30 will be the third time, next door at the Ohio. And the Zen Master said, "We'll see..."

What's your favorite thing to order there? I looked and there's one of those up in Orlando. May check it out some time. Always on the lookout for a good restaurant.

You actually don’t order anything. You have a salad bar, and then they bring around different meats on skewers and you just pick what ever you want as they go by. I always get a piece of the top sirloin, the brazilIan baby back ribs and a slice of the beef rib, and then usually a piece of what ever else looks or smells good. It’s all you can eat. Today In addition to the above listed I also got a piece of the parmesan pork, bacon wrapped filet mignon, spicy Brazilian sausage and the lamb chop. Although with the lamb, as with every other time I’ve gotten it I wasn’t a fan, but I think it’s just me. I don’t really like lamb to begin with so that’s just me. Anyway I think it’s worth the trip and the money every time.

You actually don’t order anything. You have a salad bar, and then they bring around different meats on skewers and you just pick what ever you want as they go by. I always get a piece of the top sirloin, the brazilIan baby back ribs and a slice of the beef rib, and then usually a piece of what ever else looks or smells good. It’s all you can eat. Today In addition to the above listed I also got a piece of the parmesan pork, bacon wrapped filet mignon, spicy Brazilian sausage and the lamb chop. Although with the lamb, as with every other time I’ve gotten it I wasn’t a fan, but I think it’s just me. I don’t really like lamb to begin with so that’s just me. Anyway I think it’s worth the trip and the money every time.

I haven’t been to Texas de Brazil, but I did go to a very similar Brazilian steak house in Austin, TX this past February. It is like you said. Skewer after skewer of incredibly good looking and tasty meats. You want all of it, and it is very easy to get ahead of yourself. I about couldn’t move when we finally left.

I haven’t been to Texas de Brazil, but I did go to a very similar Brazilian steak house in Austin, TX this past February. It is like you said. Skewer after skewer of incredibly good looking and tasty meats. You want all of it, and it is very easy to get ahead of yourself. I about couldn’t move when we finally left.

Believe I had that experience in Indy when my daughter was doing an internship there 5 or 6 years ago. Same formula... Great salad bar followed by more high quality meats than humans should be allowed to consume. It was spectacular.

I've been to Texas de Brazil a couple times. The salad bar is roughly the size of Rhode Island, the meats are, virtually without exception, EXCELLENT, and the service absolutely top drawer ... and for $44.99 a plate (at least here), all of the above had better darn well be the case!

Sunday - The hardest thing to accept about last night's presentation of Porgy and Bess is that it was the ONLY presentation, that we who gathered at the Ohio Theater at 7:30 PM yesterday would be the only ones to see that excellent representation of the combined efforts of George and Ira Gershwin, working from DuBose Heyward's original story. Everyone – leads, chorus, orchestra, and crew – did themselves proud with their work. It's just a damned shame that more people won't be able to enjoy it.

About 16 years ago had a Sebring poster given out at the induction ceremony of Sterling Moss, Mario Andretti, Carroll Shelby and Bobby Rahal into the Sebring hall of fame. Was able to get Sir Sterling and Mario to autograph the poster but Bobby and Carroll were gone before I could get to them.

Carroll was the honored guest at the Lime Rock Vintage festival two years later so brought the poster to the track and waited on a long line to get his autograph. Approaching the table his handler asked me what I'd brought and I explained what it was. He turned to Carroll and in a loud somewhat patronizing voice said, "This is the poster from your induction into the Sebring hall of fame!" Carroll took a beat, rolled his eyes and in his irascible Texas drawl said, " I know... I was there...".

As good as the autograph was, seeing Carroll just being Carroll was priceless.

About 16 years ago had a Sebring poster given out at the induction ceremony of Sterling Moss, Mario Andretti, Carroll Shelby and Bobby Rahal into the Sebring hall of fame. Was able to get Sir Sterling and Mario to autograph the poster but Bobby and Carroll were gone before I could get to them.

Carroll was the honored guest at the Lime Rock Vintage festival two years later so brought the poster to the track and waited on a long line to get his autograph. Approaching the table his handler asked me what I'd brought and I explained what it was. He turned to Carroll and in a loud somewhat patronizing voice said, "This is the poster from your induction into the Sebring hall of fame!" Carroll took a beat, rolled his eyes and in his irascible Texas drawl said, " I know... I was there...".

As good as the autograph was, seeing Carroll just being Carroll was priceless.

About 16 years ago had a Sebring poster given out at the induction ceremony of Sterling Moss, Mario Andretti, Carroll Shelby and Bobby Rahal into the Sebring hall of fame. Was able to get Sir Sterling and Mario to autograph the poster but Bobby and Carroll were gone before I could get to them.

Carroll was the honored guest at the Lime Rock Vintage festival two years later so brought the poster to the track and waited on a long line to get his autograph. Approaching the table his handler asked me what I'd brought and I explained what it was. He turned to Carroll and in a loud somewhat patronizing voice said, "This is the poster from your induction into the Sebring hall of fame!" Carroll took a beat, rolled his eyes and in his irascible Texas drawl said, " I know... I was there...".

As good as the autograph was, seeing Carroll just being Carroll was priceless.

Not to be "that guy," but he was, is, and forever will be "Carroll" Shelby.

Of course, if some dude signed your poster "Carol Shelby," that's a whole 'nother matter ;)

Am I the only one taken out of the story by the "A-List" actors? I mean, having those stars attached to the project is likely the only reason it could get made--and be any good (budget-wise at least)--but Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby and the Punisher as Lee Iacocca? Maybe "names" wasn't the way to go...

Not to be "that guy," but he was, is, and forever will be "Carroll" Shelby.

Of course, if some dude signed your poster "Carol Shelby," that's a whole 'nother matter ;)

Wow... Thanks for being "that guy" as the irritation of missing both double consonants 7 times is beyond annoying. Have gone back and changed the original post and the two responses just to make amends. Appreciate the heads up.

Am I the only one taken out of the story by the "A-List" actors? I mean, having those stars attached to the project is likely the only reason it could get made--and be any good (budget-wise at least)--but Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby and the Punisher as Lee Iacocca? Maybe "names" wasn't the way to go...

The problem with B list or unknown actors is there's usually a reason they're not on the A list and/or unknown. Because we're enthusiasts we're going to hold this film to a higher standard.

If the script is well written with good actors committing to their characters, there's a good chance we'll enjoy the ride. Suspect Damon has the range and intelligence to pull it off based on what I saw in the trailer but you're right to wonder about a short guy from Boston playing a bigger than life tall guy from Texas. :-)

Wow... Thanks for being "that guy" as the irritation of missing both double consonants 7 times is beyond annoying. Have gone back and changed the original post and the two responses just to make amends. Appreciate the heads up.

And he did sign it Carroll. :-)

Pat

Reliving the excitement of the event just took over your memory of spelling his name. Could have happened to anyone. ;-)